Clingan determined to start

02 September 2010 10:09

Midfielder won't sulk if on the bench Coventry City's Northern Ireland midfielder Sammy Clingan, has found himself slightly out of favour under the new management of Aidy Boothroyd and has only started one game so far this season and that was in the 3-1 defeat at Millwall. As a regular starter under the previous manager Chris Coleman, Clingan has found it hard to accept being on the bench, but he has said he will accept that and won't sulk over it, but that doesn't mean he won't be fighting to win back his starting place. Clingan is with the Northern Ireland squad preparing for the Euro 2012 qualifiers and spoke to The Belfast Telegraph, he said, “I missed the first three games of the season, I was on the bench and it came as a big shock to me because anywhere I have been I haven’t been on the bench but these things happen and make you a stronger player. // '); // ]]> “It’s not about me, football is a team game and once I’m called upon I have to be ready. I can’t sit and sulk if I’m not in the team because it’s not fair on other players. It’s not nice to sit on the bench and I’m witnessing it for the first time in my career this season. I came back in against Millwall and hopefully I can keep my place. “When the new manager didn’t start me, it was hard to accept, but I’ll not be a selfish person. That is not me. I think I am a good professional and I’ll support the players who are in the starting eleven.”